title: [Frequency of light cigarette use on staff and students of Ankara University School of Medicine].
abstract: Light cigarettes which are launched as fewer harmful threaten to community health because of so many diseases related with smoking. Therefore, research of light cigarette using rates and related factors might be beneficial along with research of smoking frequency in community. The aim of this study is to evaluate light cigarette smoking habit of staff and students of school of medicine. This cross-sectional study was conducted on staff and students of Ankara University School of Medicine in 2004. 216 (34%) light cigarette smokers of 627 people (344 students, 283 staff) were evaluated in this study. Questionarie form was applied to participants by face-to-face interview, chi-square and ANOVA analyse method were used for evaluation. Participant's profile was 51.4% male and 48.6% female. Mean age of the participants was calculated as 31.17 +/- 8.84. Light cigarette use was stated by 23.7% of smokers. Relationship between light cigarette use and various factors has been examined and it was found that light cigarette use rate was higher in females (p= 0.04). Smoking start age was detected lower in light cigarette smokers (18.59 +/- 2.87) rather than smokers (19.76 +/- 3.42). One over five person was found as light cigarette smokers among the participants. Light cigarette use rate is higher in females and smoking starting age is lower in light cigarette smokers. Relationship between female gender and smaller starting ages were considered as preference of the groups that had awareness in harmful effects of smoking especially light cigarette smoking and tried to reduce risks. In opposition to light cigarette had fewer harmful health effects, community must be made conscious about this belief may cause an increase in smoking prevalence in community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey. esin_ocaktan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mine Esin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ocaktan
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caliskan
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kanyilmaz
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult